University Management Essay: Workplace Safety and Breaches

This essay analyzes a workplace safety breach at a construction site, focusing on the case of a fatal incident involving a truck driver and power lines. It describes the workplace environment, identifies the hazards present, such as inadequate safety signage and a lack of proper site management, and explores how the breach could have been avoided through improved safety protocols and employee training. The essay details the actions taken by SafeWork and the legal consequences faced by the company, including significant fines. It further recommends proactive measures like regular safety audits and the implementation of WHS policies to prevent similar incidents. The essay also examines the importance of a strong corporate culture that prioritizes employee safety and well-being. Finally, it provides a personal perspective on how the author would address such issues within an organization, emphasizing the significance of adhering to safety regulations and fostering a safe working environment.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1MANAGEMENT
Introduction
The essay helps in analyzing the fact that health and safety of the entire workplace act
helps in providing the framework which will be suitable in protecting the different employees
working in the company as the welfare of the employees is in the hands of employers of the
company (Taylor et al., 2016). The different employees have the right in understanding the
different hazards in workplace and their refusal requires to be accepted by the employers as it
can be harmful for their lives. The best manner through which the different hazards can be
identified and avoided is through learning regarding the hazards in workplace (Xiang et al.,
2015). The main focus of the essay is to emphasize on breaches on safety which are possible in
workplace and analysis of the preventive measures for improving the scenario.
Discussion
Description of Workplace
In the year 2012, in the month of March, the truck driver of company was being assigned
for delivering the substance freight to the company compound of Kenoss, which was fenced. The
respective complex was the property of the organization which was being utilized for storing of
the piles of piping and materials (ABC.net.au, 2019). However, during the proper investigation,
it was being found that location appeared to be calculated in such a manner which was suitable
for dumping type of ground for different kinds of materials. The driver along with sub-contractor
of the company named Mr. Booth went to the respective site and the truck touched to various
lines of power which created the electrical arc for deflating the tire and leaving various marks of
burn on the roads. In such scenario, Mr. Booth tried to jump off from truck due to the electric
faults and he collapsed after jumping in the road.

2MANAGEMENT
Description of the Hazards
The hazards related to workplace are defined as the aspect wherein it has the capability of
harming the different workers in the company. The different safety hazards are common hazard
that is impacting the health of the different individuals in the workplace. In Canberra
Construction Organization safety breach, there are different risks and hazards which were
observed from the respective article that has affected the health of the individuals. The case of
Mr. Booth has been one of the extreme examples of the same and it was seen that workplace
hazards needs to be analyzed effectively (Sinelnikov, Inouye & Kerper, 2015).
While performing the different investigation, it has been found that there are different
safety breaches which took place which had been ultimately been the cause of death of the
different workers. The site of the organization has resembled like dumping sites and not the area
of the storage. In the case of Mr. Booth, it can be seen that no particular signs of the safety were
present that could warn different workers or the visitors regarding power lines which were live
(ABC.net.au, 2019). There were no flags which were depicting warning which could have
become the possible aspect for tracing work site was termed as constantly managed in a poor
manner and it showcases the lack of proper responsibility of the company towards the different
workers. From the entire incident, it can be seen that organization had the poor corporate kind of
culture that was reflected in the different activities of the business.
In the respective instance, the safety and wellbeing officer of the entire organization did
not take any kind of responsibility. From the various investigations, it can be seen that the
General Manager of the organization had tried to appoint the safety manager who did not have
any knowledge regarding the different kinds of activities which needs to be undertaken by them

3MANAGEMENT
and it affected the lives of different individuals. Without any kind of professional skills and
knowledge regarding the tasks of the safety manager, the management has provided the
responsibility to the person which is the indication of poor management corporate culture that
affected their efficiency in a negative manner (Sheehan et al., 2016). In the hazardous kind of
working scenario, it led to demise of worker of the company which affected the brand image of
the company negatively in the marketplace. Moreover, there are different kinds of risk factors
wherein it did not include documentation and the approach related to safety was minimal which
led to the ineffectiveness in the entire process (ABC.net.au, 2019).
In case of the deterrence, the sudden death of the worker of the company due to the lack
of proper corporate culture and the lack of the duty towards the safety of the employees has been
able to create the need for the proper culture and the paperwork which is necessary for running a
successful business. From the case, it has been identified that the workers and the employees are
the integral part of the company and they needs to be valued as it will be suitable for gaining
competitive advantage and it will be enhancing the effectiveness of the company suitably
(ABC.net.au, 2019). In addition, the dumping type of site in the respective case was the other
eye-opening point which has been appropriate in making understand that there was careless
attitude of the different management people of the company and due to the same, it caused the
death of the worker who was at no fault. There was no inclusion of the fact that there was no
locks on the respective site, however, the entire area was properly fenced (ABC.net.au, 2019).
The other major aspect which was being noticed in the workplace is related to power turn
off during the hours of working without the knowledge of the workers or the management of the
company who visits the areas often (ABC.net.au, 2019). However, the company has been
successful in already mentioning that workers were informed regarding the not utilization of the

4MANAGEMENT
smaller kind of compound, there was no such consideration being found in the respective place
and Mr. Booth who was the main person who had the constant admission to respective place. On
the other hand, there was no such spot found in the work ground wherein the incident of demise
of Mr. Booth took place (ABC.net.au, 2019).
Different Ways in Avoiding Breach Successfully
From the case analysis of Kenoss, it has been noticed that it is the first case in Australian
economy which have been charged against such deeds and they were punished in a bad manner
under new nationally harmonized kind of laws of the safety related to the work health of the
individuals in the company (Pillay, 2016). From the different studies, it can be seen that Mr.
Booth was the one who was regular at the site of the company, did not have any kind of
induction on site and he did not bother to attend any kind of session on talking and understanding
the different risks which are involved.
In such scenario, the proper conducting of the audit of the entire workplace has been
considered to be the one of the most effective techniques which can be introduced by the
company for reducing such scenario and rectifying the mistake in a proper and suitable manner
(Pawłowska, 2015). In addition, there can be addition of the policies related to WHS which can
be implemented for generating safety of the different employees working in the company.
Moreover, the safety manager Al-Hasani in place of the unprofessional person would have been
the proper decision; the situation could be in control as the respective person has the entire
knowledge on managing the safety and the risk aspects in the business.
Moreover, there was lack of corporate culture of the company was the other major reason
which led to the ineffectiveness in the management of the risk factors. The negligence in the part

5MANAGEMENT
of the organization caused death of the worker in the company and it could be avoided if the
company and the entire management of the company had taken various steps in reducing the
aspect and improve the well-being of the workers in a successful manner. From the above, it can
be seen that the company have many aspects which are simple, however, they did not utilize the
same and it led to the ineffectiveness in the growth of the company and the death of the worker
affected the brand image of the company negatively.
Resolution by Safe work on Respective Issue
The WHS Act 2011 has been prepared in Australia wherein the main aspect is that
workers working under them must receive proper standard safety and health protection from
each and every post. The act of WHS helps in ensuring that the most effective protection is
provided to the workers which will be enhancing their welfare in a sustainable manner (Nordlöf
et al., 2017). As per the WHS, health along with safety are the two crucial elements which needs
to be incorporated by the companies as the health of employees is the most significant aspect
which needs to be implemented by the companies and gain more effectiveness in the competitive
business environment (Amponsah-Tawiah & Mensah, 2016).
OHS of 2004 has been able to showcase the fact that when the companies will not be
able to follow the different rules and regulation successfully, there will be inclusion of fine as it
was being imposed on the respective Construction Company named Canberra which was around
$1.1 million (Bong et al.., 2015). The main focus of the SAFEWORK aspect is ensuring the fact
that the different employees and workers working in the company receives the respective safety
assurances and compensation package which will be suitable in less likely to arise such situation
(Chan et al., 2016).

6MANAGEMENT
Other Recommendations for Handling Respective Matter
In such scenario, wherein the company has been dissolved and they are required to pay a
high amount of fine, the schedule inspection is the most significant approach which can be
implemented by the company preceding to fatalities as the respective company Koness had the
most highest record of neglecting the different workplace policies and legislations towards the
health along with safety of the different workers (Mohammadfam et al., 2017). In Australian
economy, there has been new implementation of the safety laws, which can be followed by them
prior to the incident on a regular basis to bringing the issue in limelight and sorting the same in a
more appropriate manner (Khanal et al., 2017). Due to negligence, there was demise of Mr.
Booth and it affected their brand image and the company liquidation has vanished the
organization and they are unable to pay off the debts and amounts which were demanded by
them (Healy et al., 2016).
Addressing of Problem in Personally Working in Organization
If I was in the respective position, I would try to ensure that there was no such safety
breach which has been in favor of employees and the company as a whole. The company policies
are the most important aspects which needs to be followed and I would have ensured that there
was inclusion of the different acts such as WHS and OHS which mainly focused on the utmost
worker related protection and others in workplace. I would try to make sure that there was no
conciliation on safety rules and regulations for employees working in the company as they are
the asset of the company and harming them will be impacting brand image of company
negatively. The workers can execute their best with their abilities in the market when they would
have been provided with proper support and safe workplace atmosphere (Haas & Yorio, 2016).

7MANAGEMENT
Conclusion
Therefore, it is inferred that the safety in the workplace is the most significant aspect
which should be included in the companies as the business authorities are the most responsible
personalities in managing the safety of the workers. In case of lack of proper corporate culture,
there should be different kinds of fines which can be imposed upon the company for not
repeating such issue in a positive manner. The heavy kind of fine which was being forced on
respective construction company has been the proper lesson for the different other businesses
wherein it has been made clear that the workplace safety is the utmost important aspect which
needs to be included in the company for reducing the risks and saving the lives of employees and
employers.

8MANAGEMENT
References
ABC.net.au (2019) Canberra construction company fined $1.1 million over death of truck driver
(online) Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-19/construction-company-
fined-1-million-over-workplace-death/6708032 [Accessed on 5th October 2019]
Amponsah-Tawiah, K., & Mensah, J. (2016). Occupational health and safety and organizational
commitment: Evidence from the Ghanaian mining industry. Safety and Health at
work, 7(3), 225-230.
Bong, S., Rameezdeen, R., Zuo, J., Li, R. Y. M., & Ye, G. (2015). The designer's role in
workplace health and safety in the construction industry: post-harmonized regulations in
South Australia. International Journal of Construction Management, 15(4), 276-287.
Chan, A. P., Javed, A. A., Lyu, S., Hon, C. K., & Wong, F. K. (2016). Strategies for improving
safety and health of ethnic minority construction workers. Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, 142(9), 05016007.
Haas, E. J., & Yorio, P. (2016). Exploring the state of health and safety management system
performance measurement in mining organizations. Safety science, 83, 48-58.
Healy, G. N., Goode, A., Schultz, D., Lee, D., Leahy, B., Dunstan, D. W., ... & Eakin, E. G.
(2016). The BeUpstanding Program™: Scaling up the Stand Up Australia workplace
intervention for translation into practice. AIMS Public Health, 3(2), 341.
Holt, A. S. J., & Allen, J. (2015). Principles of health and safety at work. Routledge.
Khanal, S., Lloyd, B., Rissel, C., Portors, C., Grunseit, A., Indig, D., ... & McElduff, S. (2017).
Evaluation of the implementation of Get Healthy at Work, a workplace health promotion

9MANAGEMENT
program in New South Wales, Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 27(3),
243-250.
Mohammadfam, I., Kamalinia, M., Momeni, M., Golmohammadi, R., Hamidi, Y., & Soltanian,
A. (2017). Evaluation of the quality of occupational health and safety management
systems based on key performance indicators in certified organizations. Safety and health
at work, 8(2), 156-161.
Mohammadfam, I., Kamalinia, M., Momeni, M., Golmohammadi, R., Hamidi, Y., & Soltanian,
A. (2017). Evaluation of the quality of occupational health and safety management
systems based on key performance indicators in certified organizations. Safety and health
at work, 8(2), 156-161.
Nordlöf, H., Wiitavaara, B., Högberg, H., & Westerling, R. (2017). A cross-sectional study of
factors influencing occupational health and safety management practices in
companies. Safety science, 95, 92-103.
Pawłowska, Z. (2015). Using lagging and leading indicators for the evaluation of occupational
safety and health performance in industry. International journal of occupational safety
and ergonomics, 21(3), 284-290.
Pillay, M. (2016). Improving organizational health and safety performance: Theoretical
framework and contemporary approaches. management, 7(3).
Sheehan, C., Donohue, R., Shea, T., Cooper, B., & De Cieri, H. (2016). Leading and lagging
indicators of occupational health and safety: The moderating role of safety
leadership. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 92, 130-138.

10MANAGEMENT
Sinelnikov, S., Inouye, J., & Kerper, S. (2015). Using leading indicators to measure occupational
health and safety performance. Safety science, 72, 240-248.
Taylor, A. W., Pilkington, R., Montgomerie, A., & Feist, H. (2016). The role of business size in
assessing the uptake of health promoting workplace initiatives in Australia. BMC public
health, 16(1), 353.
Xiang, J., Hansen, A., Pisaniello, D., & Bi, P. (2015). Perceptions of workplace heat exposure
and controls among occupational hygienists and relevant specialists in Australia. PloS
one, 10(8), 10